Burlington Church Street officials request smoking ban

Dave Welch of Burlington enjoys a cigarette in December 2011 on Church Street. The City Council has been asked to again consider a ban on smoking on the city’s pedestrian street.
(Photo:
FREE PRESS FILE
)Buy Photo

The idea of banning smoking on Church Street is scheduled to return again to the City Council on Monday, this time in the form of a letter from the Church Street District Marketplace Commission.

The Church Street commission voted unanimously to request the change, which would ban smoking on Church Street from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to a memo from commission Chairman Jeff Nick.

In documents sent to the City Council, the commission cited the health risks associated with tobacco smoke as well as Burlington's reputation as a healthy city.

The City Council voted 8-6 in favor of a similar proposal in 2012, but Mayor Bob Kiss vetoed the ordinance.

In the memo to the City Council, Nick provided surveys showing a "significant shift of attitudes" among businesses since 2010.

In 2010, 68 percent of Church Street merchants said in a survey that they opposed a smoking ban. This year, the commission sent out another survey to 125 people representing Church Street and downtown Burlington businesses, and three out of four said they would support the ban. Almost as many, 74 percent, said it would have a positive effect on business.

"It is difficult to keep our doors open, welcoming in customers, because of cigarette smoke," wrote one person in a set of anonymous survey comments.

"Smoking and loitering go hand in hand," wrote another commenter. "Make Church Street a smoke free zone and we will attract more families."

Some business representatives commented against the proposal.

"There is no need for another law," wrote one commenter. Others said the law would be discriminatory, and two complained that the survey contained "leading questions."

The Church Street Marketplace District Commission has requested a meeting with the City Council Ordinance Committee.

Contact April Burbank at 660-1863 or aburbank@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AprilBurbank